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Unbound launches reading club

Unbound has started a reading club offering benefits such as free e-books, special events and free shipping.

Unbound has started a reading club offering benefits such as free e-books, special events and free shipping.

The crowdfunding publisher launched the membership scheme on Thursday (3rd May), charging £25 for UK customers and £99 for those abroad.

Members will be “supporting more authors to produce more great books” and will receive a range of benefits including a monthly free e-book, free shipping, goodie bags including a branded tote and a Reading Club letter “from behind the scenes at Unbound HQ”. It also promises “Unbound access”, including members-only parties with the Unbound team, early access to some books, via early bird, limited pledge levels; and seasonal discounts and offers. ​

The publisher began gauging interest among some of its subscribers last year via a survey, aiming to “give them something back, whilst promoting fantastic Unbound projects and authors at the same time”. ​

Unbound c.e.o. Dan Kieran told The Bookseller: "Over the years lots of our users have asked us to launch a membership scheme. So after talking to them about what they would most like it to include, we’re excited to launch the Unbound Reading Club.”

He said that “all proceeds from the Reading Club will go towards helping fund great books”.

The news follows some structural changes to the company over the nine months. Four of its 12 editors were made redundant last week following a “strategic reorganisation”, including former Gollancz associate publisher Simon Spanton. In February it brought its sales and distribution arms in-house and made two key hires, recruiting Brian Martin as a key account manager for Amazon with Julian Mash joining as trade sales and marketing manager. Meanwhile in the summer it launched independent literary magazineBoundless overseen by head of content Arifa Akbar.